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Synonym Chooser

How is the word begin different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of begin are commence, inaugurate, initiate, start, and usher in. While all these words mean "to take the first step in a course, process, or operation," begin, start, and commence are often interchangeable, with begin, opposed to end, being the most general.

begin a trip
began dancing

How is commence related to other words for begin?

Commence can be more formal or bookish than begin or start.

commence firing
commenced a conversation

When could inaugurate be used to replace begin?

The words inaugurate and begin are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, inaugurate suggests a beginning of some formality or notion of significance.

the discovery of penicillin inaugurated a new era in medicine

When would initiate be a good substitute for begin?

While the synonyms initiate and begin are close in meaning, initiate implies taking a first step in a process or series that is to continue.

initiated diplomatic contacts

Where would start be a reasonable alternative to begin?

The synonyms start and begin are sometimes interchangeable, but start, opposed to stop, applies especially to first actions, steps, or stages.

the work started slowly

How are the words usher in and inaugurate related as synonyms of begin?

Usher in is somewhat less weighty than inaugurate.

ushered in a period of economic decline

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of begin Police said the man failed to comply with officers’ commands and began firing his weapon toward officers. Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Nov. 2025 Sato began production on Alice in Borderland in 2019, with the first season debuting the following year. Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 2 Nov. 2025 Carlile’s the Human Tour in support of Returning to Myself begins in February on the east coast. William Vaillancourt, Rolling Stone, 2 Nov. 2025 Other women began to speak out six years ago as a rapid-fire series of events made the news in the federal case against Epstein. Erin Mansfield, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for begin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for begin
Verb
  • As one of Stephen King‘s scariest pieces of IP gets the HBO Max series treatment, the bloodbath has commenced with the first episode.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025
  • If the case is not dismissed, a trial is set to commence early next year.
    Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Tickets for Sting's show start at $750 apiece.
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Twin with Stone and add a brown suede jacket to your fall capsule wardrobe with similar styles on Amazon, starting at $35.
    Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • While several states have passed bills to establish year-round daylight saving time, any changes require federal action.
    Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Because Moreno was not yet established, the Diamondbacks wanted an everyday outfielder in Gurriel, too.
    Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Add in the flourishes provided by Poku and Kofane, in particular — the former’s opening goal last weekend was a masterpiece — and the picture is of a brittle but talented group, clearly in a development stage, but with obvious potential in key areas.
    Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
  • In 2022, Fox Weather had reported that United Airlines would abandon its request for passengers to open window shades upon landing after quietly beginning to encourage it in 2020.
    Staff Author, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Englund originated the role of Freddy Krueger in the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, portraying him in eight films before Jackie Earle Haley took over in the 2010 remake of the original.
    Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Troy Hunt also confirmed the dataset originated from Synthient’s collection of infostealer logs, not from a single platform or recent attack.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • This year, head coach Ime Udoka has even used him to initiate offense, thanks in part to some of Sheppard's deficiencies and one critical absence.
    Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Roth initiates Heartbeam as buy Roth said the med tech company is well positioned.
    Michael Bloom, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • People who feel greater meaning in life are often more resilient against larger mental health problems that might arise from adverse events such as global pandemics, severe disease and war trauma, research has shown.
    Anthony Vaccaro, Scientific American, 29 Oct. 2025
  • The negligible homicide case is seen through the strongest of microscopes, bringing flashbacks of the backstory into sharp focus as questions about faith and the human psyche soon arise.
    Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The oldest, Banco Santander, was founded in 1857.
    Adam Gale, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2025
  • The online education company, founded 20 years ago, has been hit by the rise of generative AI software tools, such as OpenAI's ChatGPT, which have become increasingly popular among students.
    Annie Palmer, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Begin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/begin. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

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